An integrative paleobiological study of woolly mammoths from the Upper Paleolithic site Kostenki 14 (European Russia)

Abstract

This paper presents a thought-out protocol for an integrative analysis of woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) bone accumulation in the upper (I) cultural layer of the famous Upper Paleolithic site Kostenki 14 (Markina gora) using Haynes’ concept of a “demographic health measure,” the advanced concept of the “last glacial body size decrease,” and precise taphonomic analysis. We apply linear regression analysis to further reveal the complex structure of mammoth size variation, complementary to univariate measures of body size used in previous studies: body size variation in woolly mammoths is predominantly accounted for by sexual dimorphism, size differences between smaller “East” and larger “West” mammoth populations, and two types of allometry (ontogenetic and static). Our analysis indicated natural formation of the bone assemblage in the cultural layer I at the Kostenki 14 site: this formation is based on the L-shaped age-sex profile obtained via depositional-time averaging of recurring nonselective death events, also confirmed by the taphonomic analysis. Our results suggest that the mammoth bone assemblage accumulated under local conditions of varying moisture in deposits at a mammoth watering place. We can hypothesize relatively long-term inhabitation of this area by mammoths and permanent visitation of the site featuring an available source of water (a spring) and possibly salt.